Thammasat Stagedaring Sit-in Protest Highlights Stalled Thai Constitution
Activists hosted a one-hour digital detox and painting sit-in to protest political deadlock, explaining why the February 8 referendum has not yet delivered a new charter.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Thammasat United Front organized the political sit-in event at San Ratsadon, Thammasat University Rangsit.
- Participants wore clear phone pouches and spent an hour daydreaming or painting to win prizes.
- Signatures for the people's constitution drafting proposal on ConforAll surpassed 118,000.
- Patsaravalee explained that the February 8 vote was only the first door, leaving two more hurdles regarding the drafting assembly.
Following the viral trend of passive sit-in events initiated by Common & Bonfires at Lumpini Park, the Thammasat United Front organized an event titled Staring at Thai Politics on July 26 at San Ratsadon, Thammasat University Rangsit campus, Pathum Thani province. Starting at 4:30 PM, the venue saw a steady influx of students, youths, and prominent activists including Patsaravalee Thanakitvibulpon from the Campaign for Constitution Network (CALL) and Nutchanon Pairoj from the ConforAll campaign.
Registration booths were set up for a signature campaign demanding an end to appointed senators and insisting on an elected charter drafting assembly (S.S.R.). Attendees received transparent plastic neck pouches to store and lock away their mobile phones during the event. Others registered to paint plaster coasters or sign the citizen-led constitution amendment draft and the October 6 coup legacy eradication campaign via the conforall.com website, which recorded 118,000 signatories by 6:00 PM on July 26, well above the 50,000 target.
At 5:15 PM, the timer officially began. Participants either sat or lay quietly on the grass by the waterfront, while others painted plaster coasters with political messages such as No 112 and rainbow designs symbolizing LGBTQ+ pride. Nutchanon played the guitar while Patsaravalee performed eight live acoustic songs, starting with Zombie and concluding with Jai Rak, creating a relaxing atmosphere for everyone present.
Upon completing the full hour of device-free resting, participants who followed the rules entered a lucky draw to win special prizes, including pens and books from the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, t-shirts from iLaw and other civic groups, and even instant noodles. Students from various educational institutions attended to voice their political stances through this unconventional gathering.
This form of peaceful, low-engagement activism demonstrates how political groups successfully utilize university spaces to make complex constitutional reform processes accessible to younger generations. By combining relaxation with civic duties like signature collection, organizers bridge the gap between casual participants and serious political advocacy campaigns.
Towards the end of the event, Patsaravalee and Nutchanon addressed a common public question: why Thailand still lacks a new constitution despite the referendum held on February 8, clarifying that the date only marked the opening of the first procedural door.
"Although we voted in favor on February 8, we still have to pass through the second door, where they will ask whether we agree with the origin of the constitution drafters, whom we call the S.S.R."
Patsaravalee Thanakitvibulpon
Patsaravalee further elaborated on the political conflict surrounding the drafting assembly, noting that one political faction proposed an assembly appointed entirely by parliament without public input, while the People's Party suggested an indirect election endorsed by lawmakers. Civic groups continue to push for direct public participation in shaping the nation's foundational law.
Source: Matichon Politics
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